KANNAPOLIS, NC (June 8, 2017) – Amateur golfer and 2016 defending champion, David Kocher, captured the 53rd SignArt North Carolina Open Presented by Mobipaidon June 8 after an intense final round at The Club at Irish Creek.

Kocher and fellow amateurs Eric Bae, Thomas Eldridge, and Aman Gupta, finished 36 holes tied at 206 (-6). On the first playoff hole, the 221-yard par-3 #18, all competitors made par. On the 406-yard par-4 #1, Kocher drained an eight-foot putt for birdie and the repeat victory.

Kocher, a senior on the University of Maryland golf team, began the day tied for second at 136 (-6) with fellow amateur Thomas Eldridge. They sat three strokes behind Concord, NC local amateur Aman Gupta’s 139 (-9). Breezy conditions and the demanding Davis Love III course design proved challenging for everyone on top the leaderboard, thus the tie at the end of regulation.

With his win, Kocher is the third straight amateur to win the North Carolina Open.

168 of the top playing PGA Professionals and amateurs in North and South Carolina came together at The Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis, North Carolina for a shot at one of the region’s most prestigious golf tournaments and a unique chance to support The Hendrick Family Foundation – the charitable arm of Hendrick Motorsports and the Hendrick Auto Group. Throughout the event, there were a series of unique fundraising opportunities for the Foundation with help from presenting partner, Mobipaid, who supports payments and donations through text messaging and social media. By the final day of the tournament, the North Carolina Open was able to donate $8,700 to the Hendrick Family Foundation making it one of the Section’s most successful events to date.

The 53rd SignArt North Carolina Open Presented by Mobipaid is an official Bob Boyd CPGA Player of the Year Award Presented by OMEGA points event. Additionally, PGA Members' scores count toward the True Temper CPGA Johnny Palmer Trophy, which recognizes the best scoring average for the season.

The North Carolina Open is open to both
amateurs and PGA professionals. It is
organized
by the Carolinas section of the PGA of
America. 54-hole stroke play. The field is
reduced to the low 60 contestants (or 1/3 of
the field if 140 or less) and ties after 36
holes.

Interesting Fact: Both
state
opens
run by the
Carolinas section, the North Carolina Open
and
the South Carolina Open, are the only ones in
the United States that prohibit non-PGA
professionals from competing. It has been
played annually since 1965 at a variety of
courses around the state.